MISD makes teacher cuts

It was revealed that the Moulton Independent School District will be having to make some cuts at the March 12 meeting.

Many citizens came to the meeting voicing their concern about the transparency of the district and the cuts that are having to be made.

Interim Superintendent Bill Hefner assured the public that he is doing everything he can to make the district financially stable.

“When I took this position, I knew there were financial concerns,” Hefner said. “I knew that there had to be some changes. It took me a couple of weeks to watch things, look at budgets, review the audit report and look at the entire situation. The financial situation that I knew wasn’t good is actually worse than I had anticipated. I know that’s not the news we want to hear, but time is of the essence in this situation.”

“There have been decisions that were made and we’re now feeling the ramifications of those decisions. The State of Texas does not fund (the district) at the level that (they’re) functioning at. There was Covid money that came to the school districts a few years ago and that probably brought us some time. That money has since dried up and it’s gone.”

Around six teachers have already been cut in order to maintain financial stability in the district.

“In talking with the board and looking at staffing, the staff numbers have grown through the years and the student population has not grown,” Hefner said. “That’s a recipe for bad things. I had some very difficult conversations this week with employees and those aren’t fun. I don’t enjoy doing those things. Personnel is where you’re money is in the school district. If we don’t begin the changes immediately that I’ve already done, I don’t know if there will be a path forward financially. Everyone in this room wants Moulton ISD to survive and we have to make some really difficult choices. When the decisions were made, we wanted to give every employee as much notice as we possibly could.”

MISD has been overstaffed for around ten years according to one of the board members.

The number that needs to be cut is $800,000 annually according to Hefner.

“I’ve been asked what we can do,” Hefner said. “When we need that $800,000, that’s just to stabilize (the district) to keep it from falling off that cliff. We have to get the situation taken care of. We need to have a tax election; that’s my other financial advice. Those typically occur in November, it’s a process, but it will generate about $315,000. That along with the cuts will put MISD on a trajectory of rebuilding its fund balance.”

One person asked what the community can do to lighten the load on the district and help the teachers and staff that are still around. A good way for this is volunteering. The PTO board meets on the third Thursday of every month and the Booster Club meets one hour before the school board meetings.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Board members approved a salary freeze for the 2025-26 school year.

• Board members approved an early resignation incentive. This is an incentive which lasts until April 18. It’s a limit to five employees who have been with the district for over 15 years.

• Board members approved the call for the District of Innovation Plan.

• It was reported that the book fair for the Elementary School will be from March 24 to the 28th.

• The high school recently did drills that went well. It was also reported that prom will be on March 22.

• Attendance rate showed that there are 165 students in Elementary School and 119 in High School.

• Locks will be added to the cafeteria doors for additional security.